Victorious comeback of the national team

Friday, June 16, 2023

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FCSD | UAF

The Ukraine national team played the Euro 2024 qualification match against North Macedonia

The starting line-up of the Blue-and-Yellows included four representatives of Shakhtar again: goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin, defender Mykola Matviienko, midfielders Taras Stepanenko and Heorhii Sudakov.

The Ukrainians created the first opportunity in the match: Mudryk did not reach the ball after Yarmolenko's cross, but Mykolenko managed to take a shot – above the target. For the next half hour, there was a positional battle without much intensity on the field, until the host team earned a spot-kick in the 31st minute, when the ball hit Matviienko's arm in the penalty area: Bardi did not miss and opened the scoring with a shot into the right corner. Then, Trajkovski could have scored, but his shot was saved by Trubin. And yet, towards the end of the half, North Macedonia scored for the second time: in the 39th minute, Elmas decided to perform a long-range shot and hit the right post. Just before the break, Trubin saved the visiting team once again, reacting to Alioski's attempt.

During the break, the coaching staff of the Blue-and-Yellows made two substitutions, releasing the Miner, Yukhym Konoplia, and Vladyslav Vanat. In the second half, Serhii Rebrov's lads played much more aggressively in attack, and it resulted in an incredible comeback. In the 62nd minute, Illia Zabarnyi headed Tsyhankov's cross from the right corner right home, reducing the gap. And in the 67th minute, the score was even: Mudryk raced across the left wing and passed the ball from the goal-line to the penalty area, Yukhym Konoplia responded from the opposite end and made a well-placed shot under the far post – 2-2. After five more minutes, the Macedonians remained in the minority after the send-off of Musliu, and the Ukrainians exploited their numerical advantage. In the 83rd minute, Mudryk found Viktor Tsyhankov in the centre of the penalty area with an excellent cross, and he headed the ball over the goalkeeper. Another Shakhtar player, Oleksandr Zubkov, came om the field in the added time, but neither he nor anyone else was destined to change the score.

3-2 – the Ukraine national team win the first victory in the Euro 2024 qualification, defeating North Macedonia.

On June 19, Serhii Rebrov's team will host the Malta national team in Trnava, Slovakia. The game at Anton Malatinsky Stadium will kick off at 19:00 Kyiv time.